Posts Tagged :

stolen wellies

Elvis impersonator raises £200,000 for Francis House 150 150 mhamer

Elvis impersonator raises £200,000 for Francis House

DJ and Elvis Impersonator Jim Nicholas has raised an incredible £200k over 25 years by collecting at his performances

 

 

 

 

 

 

DJ and Elvis Presley impersonator Jim Nicholas has raised an amazing £200,000 over 25 years for Francis House Children’s Hospice.

Jim, who is a good friend of comedian Jimmy Cricket, has raised the funds by collecting at his performances.

Northern Irish funnyman Jimmy has also brought in a lot of money over the decades for the hospice.

Francis House is based in south Manchester.

Both entertainers feature in the latest edition of the charity’s newsletter (above).

‘Wonderful cause’

Jimmy, 74, tweeted: “Our thanks, (mine and Jim Nicholas), for the lovely article in the@FrancisHouseCH winter newsletter.

“It has been a pleasure working on behalf of your wonderful cause over the years!”

His pal Jim says in the newsletter: “From day one when I first went to Francis House and saw the families, I felt that I wanted to do everything I could for them.

“Without Francis House these families would be stuck.

“If I can entertain people and they enjoy what I’m doing, and if that helps in some small way, I’m happy to do it.”

Jim, who is from Swinton in Salford, Greater Manchester, is also the impresario behind Jimmy’s variety shows for Francis House.

The pair were introduced many years ago by Sister Aloysius and have remained close friends and showbiz partners ever since.

Christmas CD

The Stars Come Out for Francis House charity gala has taken place at the Oldham Coliseum eight times.

In addition, there are plans for an October 2020 performance.

A few years ago, Jimmy hit upon the idea of original Christmas numbers to sell at his shows with profits donated to Francis House.

The CD is Santa bring my wellies back to me.

The name of the CD relates to the theft several years ago of concrete wellington boots (below right).

‘Happy Christmas everyone!’

The late Sir Ken Dodd had given them to Rochdale-based Jimmy.

The wellies were given by Ken Dodd to Jimmy CricketJimmy said: “With Christmas ‘19 beckoning my goal is to reach 2,000 copies and that would mean we’ve raised £10,000 for Francis House.

“A big thank you to those of you who’ve bought one and a Happy Christmas everyone!”

Francis House said: “Help Jimmy reach his goal of selling 2,000 copies to raise £10,000!

“‘Santa Bring My Wellies Back To Me’ can be purchased for £5 plus £1.95 p&p from Francis House by calling 0161 443 2200.

“Or go to www.francishouse.org.uk/getinvolved/shop/online-shop/”

You can also buy the CD here at Jimmy’s own website.

And there’s more… there’s a special Christmas offer on at present from Jimmy!

Jimmy Cricket remembers comedy pals Sir Ken Dodd & Jim Bowen 150 150 mhamer

Jimmy Cricket remembers comedy pals Sir Ken Dodd & Jim Bowen

Rochdale Council's photo of Sir Ken Dodd and Jimmy Cricket

Jimmy Cricket has been remembering comedy friends Jim Bowen and Sir Ken Dodd, who died within a few days of each other.

Liverpool legend Sir Ken, creator of the Diddy Men, passed away last weekend aged 90, having recently been released from hospital after six weeks of treatment for a chest infection.

And broadcaster and comedian Jim, best known for hosting darts-based game show Bullseye in the 1980s and ’90s, died on Wednesday at the age of 80.

Belfast-born and Rochdale-based Jimmy posted a video on Twitter in which he pays a special tribute to Sir Ken (below).

And Rochdale Council also tweeted the photo at the top of this article, saying: “Farewell to a legend – here’s comedy star Sir Ken Dodd with his good friend and Rochdale resident during a town hall dinner to celebrate Jimmy receiving a Papal knighthood in 2015. RIP and thanks for the laughs.”

Jimmy Cricket talking about Sir Ken Dodd

The Universe, the weekly Catholic newspaper, featured a photograph of Sir Ken on its front page (below), saying: “Catholic comedian leads tribute to legendary funnyman.”

And the Rochdale Observer also reported on Jimmy paying tribute to Sir Ken. The story recalled the tale of the stolen concrete wellies – read more about that here.

Read more about Sir Ken.

Jimmy Cricket talks about Sir Ken Dodd in the Catholic newspaper, The Universe

Former deputy headmaster Jim, who lived in North Lancashire, began his career as a stand-up comedian on the club circuit in the 1960s. He became a household name when he began presenting Bullseye in 1981. The Sunday tea time show ran for 14 years.

Jimmy tweeted: “So sad to hear of the passing of another legendary comic and game show host, my friend Jim Bowen, another ⭐️ star in heaven!”

Click here to watch Jimmy’s appearance on Bullseye.

Jimmy: Daughter’s CD is a ‘really nice listen’ 150 150 mhamer

Jimmy: Daughter’s CD is a ‘really nice listen’

Jimmy Cricket's daughter Jamie features on the cover of the CD called PilgrimJamie Mulgrew, one of Jimmy Cricket’s daughters, has written and recorded a new CD of Christian music.

She has recently been working with music producer Gerry Coates to create the collection called Pilgrim, which is available to buy here.

Jamie is also an assistant head teacher of a special needs school in Putney, south London.

Jimmy said: “She has always been a very talented singer. When she was at secondary school, she played the lead role of Maria in the school’s version of the musical the Sound of Music.

“I am thrilled that Jamie has released this CD and, after listening to it, think it has great production values and is a really nice listen.”

The Nobodies, stolen wellies & keeping busy 150 150 mhamer

The Nobodies, stolen wellies & keeping busy

Jimmy Cricket article in the Local Journal in RossendaleJimmy Cricket has been telling a magazine about how he met his wife May and why he still hopes his concrete wellies will one day be returned to him.

The famous entertainer is featured in the February edition of the  Local Journal in Rossendale – his house falls just metres inside the Rossendale border.

He moved there a couple of years ago  from his previous home in Rochdale which was less than a mile from where he now lives.

The article (above), written by Graham Ashworth, is headlined ‘Jimmy cricket is still bowling them over!’ and describes him as one of the country’s best-known comedians.

It says he was the last person to be interviewed by Eamonn Andrews on the famous This
is your life programme and that it was at Pontins holiday camp in Morecambe where he met his wife May who was singing with a resident group called ‘The Nobodies’.

And Jimmy, who says he has no plans to hang up his wellies any time soon, has not given up hope that his concrete boots, which were stolen from his garden last summer, may yet turn up again eventually.